England made the most eloquent statement of their Ashes intent by sweeping to an innings-and-71-run victory in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

A devastating opening hour in which they claimed four wickets, including three in four balls, heralded a slide that saw Australia bowled out for 304 an hour before lunch on the final day.

In all, the hosts, who resumed on 238 for four, lost six wickets for just 43 runs in less than an hour and a half’s play this morning, and they been so thoroughly outplayed in this game that they must harbour grave concerns over their capacity to recover from going 1-0 down in the series.

That will be of little concern to England, whose performance today matched, nay bettered, the brilliance they have exhibited over the last five days.

Much has been written and spoken of England’s burgeoning confidence in the build-up to this tour, yet this staggeringly comprehensive victory – completed with utter ruthlessness thanks to Graeme Swann’s five-wicket haul – serves as the most graphic example of their supremacy.

The off-spinner lived up to his billing as England’s match-winner to finish with 5-91 from 41.1 overs on the sort of wearing surface he must dream of, although Steven Finn and James Anderson also played their part in hurrying through the middle and lower order.

Finn claimed the key wicket of Mike Hussey and Anderson removed Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris in the space of two deliveries – in a pulsating 10-minute spell that all but settled this contest – before Swann completed the job.

The tail – indeed, the majority of the Australia batsmen – had no answer to his wiles; the greatest compliment that can be paid is that it was no surprise when he bowled Peter Siddle through the gate to seal England’s first innings victory over Australia since Melbourne 1986.

It was Australia’s first innings defeat on home soil since they lost to West Indies at Perth in 1993, and England’s 100th Test win over the old enemy.

The task of taking 20 wickets, arguably the greatest challenge facing England Down Under, was achieved with some ease (or so it appeared) on a flat surface, and amid the jubilant celebrations on the pitch and in the stands it was easy to forget that England lost the toss here.

An England win, though likely, was far from a certainty at the start of a day when storms were expected; less so following the news that Stuart Broad will play no further part in the tour due to a torn stomach muscle.

The speed with which they swept home inside an hour and half today made both the bad weather (which arrived shortly after 2pm) and the absence of one third of their pace attack immaterial.

If Broad’s injury shifted more responsibility on to his bowling colleagues, it did not show.

Finn struck in only the third over with the new ball, hurrying Hussey, who added just eight to his overnight 44, into a pull which looped tamely to Anderson at midwicket. Matt Prior’s drop off Swann moments early, a tough chance off a faint outside edge, was thus redundant.

Haddin, the biggest remaining obstacle in England’s path, became the first of two victims in as many balls for Anderson when, betrayed by a lack of foot movement, he nicked the perfect outswinger behind.

Harris was lbw offering no shot to a delivery which arced back in sharply – a review of the decision showed the ball clipping the top of off stump – and Swann struck two balls later when an unsuccessful lbw appeal against Marcus North, pushing forward, was overturned on review.

Xavier Doherty, bowled defending with hope rather than conviction, joined the procession, and Swann brought the curtain down on an England performance that was not far short of faultless when he turned one back sharply between Siddle’s bat and pad.

Source: ECB

Kevin Pietersen struck crucial blows with bat and ball against Australia on Monday as England seized control of the second Ashes test.

After scoring a career-high 227 in England’s first innings of 620 for five declared, Pietersen dismissed Michael Clarke for 80 in the last over to seriously dent Australia’s resistance and leave the hosts hoping that forecast rain Tuesday will wash out the fifth and final day.

Australia was 238-4 at stumps on day four, still 137 adrift with three sessions remaining.

Clarke and Mike Hussey (44 not out) put on 104 for the fourth wicket before the Australian vice-captain pushed a ball from part-time spinner Pietersen to Alastair Cook at short leg. The umpire initially rejected England’s appeals but the decision was successfully challenged in a fitting finish to a brilliant day for Pietersen.

His double century helped England to a 375-run first innings lead and exposed even more concerns for Australia’s misfiring bowling attack _ which has taken only six wickets at a cost of more than 1,100 in England’s last two innings.

“Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration and who else but KP to come on and give you it,” said England spinner Graeme Swann, who took two wickets in the middle session. “It’s a massive bonus for us. It was tough going for us in the last session, their two best players against spin at crease, both playing well.

“I’m so glad KP got that one in the last over. Clarke is their best player of spin and to get him out like that was magic _ sometimes a bit of inspiration just works in your favor.”

Hussey, who will need to forge long partnerships with Marcus North or Brad Haddin to salvage the match, said losing Clarke in the last over was a blow.

“It was a really somber way to finish the day for us because we fought pretty hard,” Hussey said. “It was a bit of a kick in the guts to lose that one in the last over but we’re still in there fighting.

“Sometimes when someone is having a great game it’s not a bad move to give them a chance with the ball and they can pull off something special like today.”

Before Pietersen’s breakthrough, despite pressure from Swann _ who bowled 34 straight overs from the Cathedral End _ and Steven Finn, England had rarely troubled the Australian fourth-wicket pair before or after the 57-minute postponement for bad light and heavy rain in the third session.

Earlier, Simon Katich (43), Ricky Ponting (9) and Shane Watson (57) fell during the middle session to leave Australia three-down at tea.

The Australia openers had survived unscathed until lunch before Swann struck twice shortly after the resumption.

He had Katich caught behind to a ball moving away from the left-hander. Ponting played positively hitting Swann for two boundaries before he was deceived by a top-spinning delivery and edged to Paul Collingwood at slip.

Stuart Broad dropped a tough caught-and-bowled chance from Watson after the ball was driven back at him. Shortly afterward the fast bowler left the field with a strained stomach muscle and did not bowl for the rest of day four. Swann said Broad had been checked out by team medical staff and was OK.

Watson didn’t last much longer before he nicked Finn to Andrew Strauss at slip. Finn was England’s most dangerous paceman, and particularly troubled Hussey with reverse swinging deliveries.

“In an ideal world we probably would have them eight or nine down but it’s not an ideal world and we’re facing a very resilient Australian team,” Swann said. “We’re confident. We’ve played some very good cricket since day four in Brisbane, we’ve been a very good side. If we can turn up tomorrow and continue in that vein then I think we are in the box seat.”

Hussey said Australia hadn’t conceded defeat just yet.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do but certainly if we can draw the match I think England will see that as a loss,” said Hussey. “That’s something that’s going to drive us on.”

England started Monday at 551-4 and added 69 runs in 41 minutes before Strauss declared, electing not to push to surpass its highest ever total batting in Australia: 636 all out scored in Sydney in 1928.

Ian Bell ended the innings on 68 not out, Prior scored 27 off just 21 deliveries.

Source: Yahoo Cricket

Kevin Pietersen doesn’t do things by halves, and having spent the past 18 months without a Test century it was no surprise that he turned his comeback hundred into a double as England inflicted more pain on Australia. By the end of the third day in Adelaide, the equation was simple – Australia’s batsmen must survive six sessions, or close to it, to salvage a draw and head to Perth at 0-0.

Not that England had declared yet, but the rain that arrived at tea, by which stage their lead was an ample 306 runs, would no doubt encourage Andrew Strauss to get his bowlers in to action as soon as possible on the fourth day. A shower or two has been forecast for Monday, with some wet weather expected on Tuesday as well, and Australia are the only possible beneficiaries if the rain plays a part.

They had to find assistance from somewhere, after spending the past two days toiling in the field for little reward. Adding to their woes, Simon Katich spent time off the field battling an Achilles tendon injury, which won’t help his chances of playing a long innings. And there were hints of reverse swing late in the day, along with sharp spin out of the footmarks when Marcus North sent down a few overs, which will make Graeme Swann a serious threat.

On the second day, Australia were thwarted by Alastair Cook, whose two centuries have defined the opening stages of this Ashes battle, but Pietersen’s dramatic return to form could become a key factor for the rest of the series. At stumps, Pietersen was unbeaten on 213, his second double-century threatening to become his highest Test score, although the weather might have put paid to his plans of overhauling his career-best 226. Ian Bell was with him, on 41, after Paul Collingwood (42) chipped in earlier in the day to add to Australia’s woes, which began with Cook’s magnificent 148.

Without question, the day belonged to Pietersen, who entered this match having not scored a Test century since the tour of the West Indies in March 2009. That in itself was almost impossible for Australian fans to believe, given the vintage touch he displayed in this innings. He was forceful through the off side, driving hard and finding gaps, and thumped through midwicket with disdain.

His so-called weakness against left-arm spin didn’t help Xavier Doherty, who struggled for impact and had 0 for 120 from 24 overs, which will increase the chances of Nathan Hauritz returning for the Perth Test. No bowler leaked more runs against Pietersen than Doherty, who was dispatched for nine fours and one monstrous six over the fence at long-off, which is a fine achievement considering the lengthy straight boundaries at Adelaide Oval.

Pietersen’s work down the ground against Doherty was outstanding, but the Adelaide spectators who remembered his 158 in the corresponding Test four years ago would have been taken back in time by his walking at the fast bowlers. Doug Bollinger is not a man who often gets charged, but the sight of Pietersen sauntering down the pitch to flick Bollinger through midwicket from outside off was something to behold.

His century, which came with a clip off his hips from his 158th delivery, brought a screeching roar from Pietersen that would have fitted into a horror movie, which was pretty much how the Australians were viewing the Test. His double-hundred came from his 283rd delivery, with a hurried single pushed to mid-off, testing the hamstring that had twinged earlier in his innings.

There was no run-out chance, though, and in truth, Australia created hardly any opportunities throughout the day. There were but two wickets for the home team to celebrate, just as there had been on Saturday. They were pleased to get rid of Cook early in the day, when he feathered a thin inside edge off Ryan Harris to Brad Haddin, who hurled himself to his right to take an athletic catch.

Cook’s dismissal left him on 450 runs from his three innings so far this series, more than any Australian batsman managed throughout the entire 2009 Ashes campaign. It was a well-deserved wicket for Harris, who was easily the best of Australia’s bowlers, although he didn’t have much competition in an attack that struggled for impact.

Shane Watson picked up Collingwood, lbw to a fullish ball that nipped in and struck him in line with off stump, but as the opening batsman, he cannot be expected to carry too much of a bowling load. Those were Australia’s only two moments of relief on another difficult day, until the rain set in. And when you cheer for wet weather, you know you’re in trouble.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

Alastair Cook continued his sensational Ashes form with another century as England surged into the lead in the second Test in Adelaide.

For the second time in the series he batted through an entire day, hitting an unbeaten 136 to propel England comfortably beyond Australia’s meagre 245.

The tourists closed the second day on 317 for two, 72 in front and with their prospects of establishing a potentially match-winning advantage growing ever more realistic.

Jonathan Trott contributed 78 to a second-wicket stand of 173 with Cook which could be considered something of a disappointment after they put on an unbroken 329 in Brisbane, and a near faultless day for England was capped by Kevin Pietersen’s serene progress to 85. His partnership with Cook is currently worth 141.

That Trott and Pietersen’s efforts were overshadowed says everything about the quality of Cook’s innings, which was founded on the rocky foundations of England losing captain Andrew Strauss to the third ball of the day.

His performance today was immense, not only statistically but also in terms of the psychological effect it had on an increasingly bedraggled Australia attack forced to operated in conditions Cook later described as “ideal” for batting.

A flat pitch and searing heat unquestionably blunted the hosts’ potency, but Cook’s calm authority was reflected in the fact he did not offer a chance in six and half hours and England’s dominance by a run-rate of more than 3.5 an over.

Cook, who made 76 and 235 not out at the Gabba, has now scored a staggering 438 runs in a series that began with his place under threat. He has now batted for 17 hours and two minutes without being dismissed, beating Nasser Hussain’s England record.

While Cook and Trott came together in Brisbane with the scoreboard reading 188 for one – albeit with England still in arrears – their partnership here began after Strauss was bowled shouldering arms.

The captain was presumably leaving on length when he offered no stroke to Doug Bollinger and had his off bail clipped by a delivery that hardly deviated in line.

Trott was fortunate to survive a run-out chance on six – Xavier Doherty missed with his throw from square-leg after Cook turned down a single – and saw Mike Hussey drop a straightforward chance at gully off Bollinger when he had made 10.

Those errors contrasted starkly with England’s exceptional fielding yesterday, one of many comparisons that Australia would not have appreciated throughout the day.

There was no shortage of authoritative strokes, the majority coming initially from Trott’s bat in the form of trademark whips through the leg side as Australia’s tactic of attacking the stumps backfired.

Growing in adventure, Cook took three fours off Bollinger in the first over after the interval to remind Australia of the task facing them on a day when temperatures touched 37 degrees Celsius.

A miscued pull off Bollinger which looped to a vacant midwicket was the exception rather than the norm for the fluent Trott, who continued to punish anything remotely close to his pads as he followed Cook to 50, off 84 balls to his partner’s 102.

With their lead trimmed to 100, Australia thought they made the breakthrough when Cook was adjudged behind attempting to hook Siddle, only for the batsman’s referral to prove successful after replays showed the ball brushing arm rather than glove.

Brad Haddin, leaping to his left behind the stumps, failed to cling on to a similar chance offered by Trott off Harris, but the batsman failed to add to his score before he whipped the same bowler off his hips to a diving Michael Clarke at short midwicket.

A first setback for 47 overs failed to persuade Cook to alter his approach, and he made plentiful use of the numerous gaps in the field as he moved ruthlessly to three figures.

As usual, the leg side proved a popular scoring area, although the occasional drive through a congested off-side ring served as a reminder that Cook is more than an accumulator.

Pietersen’s panache has never been in doubt, and the manner in which he used his feet to dominate Doherty from the outset masked the fact he had spent much of the day – and the best part of two days in Brisbane – padded up waiting to bat.

Advancing to drive straight and wide of mid-on and mid-off, he spared neither the ineffective Doherty – his 15 fruitless overs cost 70 – nor any of the other bowlers in racing to a 72-ball half-century.

Even three overs with the new ball were not sufficient to stall England, who will head into the third day eager to tighten their grip on a game becoming ever more one-sided.

Source: ECB

The opening day of the second Test at Adelaide Oval has belonged to England’s bowlers as they demolished Australia for 245, despite another defiant knock from Michael Hussey.

Australia’s day had begun in disastrous fashion, losing three wickets to stumble to 3-2 after the first three overs, with Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting both taken for a duck while under-pressure batsman Michael Clarke was dismissed for two runs.

James Anderson was England’s chief destroyer, dismantling the Aussie’s top order as he claimed both Ponting and Clarke on his way to 4-51.

Hussey, though, backed up his 195 runs in Brisbane to post 93 before he was taken seven runs short of his second consecutive ton by Graeme Swann, who finished with 2-70.

The England spinner produced a delightful delivery which Hussey lashed out at, but the devastating turn saw the batsman prod an edge to Paul Collingwood in slip. Hussey’s dismissal led to a late collapse from the Australians, who lost their last five wickets for just 38 runs.

It was Katich, however, who started the rot as he was run out at the striker’s end without facing a ball after some quick and clever fielding by Jonathan Trott who took the bails off the stumps with a direct hit from square leg.

Ponting followed on the very next ball caught in slip by Swann from an Anderson delivery.

The pair combined again to remove Clarke and Australia were in all sorts of bother at 3-2 after three overs.

Hussey steadied the ship for the home side and racked up a 94-run partnership with Shane Watson, before the opener was taken for 51 in the second over after lunch.

Anderson claimed his third wicket when Watson was caught at gully by Kevin Pietersen.

Marcus North entered the fray and began slowly with first-Test hero Hussey. The pair managed 60 runs between them with the left-handers taking Australia’s total past 150 before North was dismissed for 26 three overs before tea.

North lazily attempted to cut a Steven Finn delivery but got a big edge leaving England wicketkeeper Matt Prior with a routine catch.

Aussie keeper Brad Haddin came in to replace North and Australia’s heroic first-Test duo resumed at 5-156 as they looked to reproduce their massive 307-run partnership from Brisbane.

This time, though, they could only add 51 runs before Hussey was eventually dismissed.

Swann’s influence grew and he went on to claim Ryan Harris lbw for a duck with the following ball in a horror return for the pace bowler in his first Test at the Adelaide Oval, but not after the former Redback appealed the decision.

There wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the decision and Australia spinner Xavier Doherty arrived at the crease with the hosts chance of a successful fight back dashed at 7-207.

Doherty made six runs before he was caught ball watching and run out at the strikers’ end with Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook teeing up Prior for an easy stumping as Australia’s tail end began to crumble.

First test hat-trick hero Peter Siddle was caught for three runs at mid wicket by Cook before Stuart Broad took the final wicket, dismissing Haddin for 56 with Finn catching just inside the rope.

England managed to fit in one over before stumps and the visitors head into day two on 0-1 with captain Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook unbeaten at the crease.

Source: Cricket Austrlia

England will take valuable momentum into the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after dominating the final day of a drawn series-opener in Brisbane.

Alastair Cook recorded a magnificent unbeaten double century and Jonathan Trott scored his second hundred in as many Tests against Australia as the tourists declared their second innings on a mammoth 517 for one – their highest total at the Gabba – to set the hosts a notional 297 for victory.

Cook’s 235 represented the largest individual score at the ground, beating the previous record of Don Bradman, while Trott had taken his score to 135 by the time skipper Andrew Strauss called a halt to proceedings 40 minutes before tea.

The second-wicket partnership yielded an astonishing 329 runs, a record stand for England in Australia, and ensured the home side had to face a testing examination with the ball before the close.

Stuart Broad raised brief hopes of an unlikely England victory when he had Simon Katich caught by Strauss at first slip in the sixth over of Australia’s innings, but Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting steadied the ship thereafter and took the score on to 107 for one before the captains shook hands on a draw.

Watson finished unbeaten on 41, having been dropped by Paul Collingwood off Graeme Swann when he had 17 to his name, and Ponting looked in excellent touch as he raced to 51 not out on an increasingly benign wicket.

But the late rally will have done little to temper England’s delight after they hauled themselves back into the match in impressive fashion on days four and five.

Australia were unfortunate to see a number of edges land safely this morning, but as the day progressed they were forced to endure an utterly torrid time in the field.

Resuming on 309 for one with Cook on 132 and Trott 54, the duo overcame some early scares at the hands of Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus to take England’s score past 350.

The Warwickshire batsman received a huge let-off on 65 as a lazy cut off Watson picked out Michael Clarke at first slip, but Australia’s vice-captain was unable to hold on to the simplest of chances, much to the frustration of the bowler.

Cook slashed Mitchell Johnson through point for four in the next over and Australia’s misery deepened as the seamer sent a horrendous delivery way down the leg side for five wides.

Back-to-back boundaries from Cook, the latter a glorious cover drive, took him past his previous highest Test score – 173 against Bangladesh in Chittagong earlier this year.

Xavier Doherty was then despatched to the fence on two occasions by Trott and the 200 partnership arrived in the next over.

With Australia now on the ropes, Cook lofted Doherty high over midwicket for his 19th boundary before seeing consecutive deliveries turn sharply past wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for four byes.

Cook soon moved to 200 – from 360 balls – with a quick single off Doherty.

And there was still time for Trott to reach his century from the penultimate ball of the session, ensuring England’s top three batsmen reached three figures in the same innings for only the second time in Tests, with Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Frank Woolley having accomplished the feat against South Africa at Lord’s in 1924.

Runs continued to flow after the interval, with the erratic Johnson coming in for the heaviest punishment.

The left-armer was unable to display any consistency in a dismal spell which saw boundaries conceded on either side of the wicket.

Cook survived a scare on 209 as he clipped Doherty to Ponting at short midwicket. Australia’s captain thought he had taken a clear catch, but the batsman survived as replays failed to conclusively prove whether the ball had carried.

Doherty was hammered down the ground by the left-hander in his next over and Trott repeated the trick as the partnership neared 300.

Cook had another let-off when Ponting spilled a tricky chance at slip off Watson.

By this stage, England had adopted a hugely aggressive approach, typified by a sensational lofted straight drive from Trott off Watson that flew to the boundary.

And when Cook spanked Doherty over mid-on for yet another four, he and Trott had overtaken the record partnership in Tests at the Gabba, set by Mike Hussey and Haddin earlier in this match.

Strauss decided he had seen enough soon after and Australia’s bowlers were probably grateful.

James Anderson and Broad were given the task of making a breakthrough before tea and the latter worried Katich with a beautiful delivery that swung past the outside edge.

It was a similar ball that accounted for the Essex man soon after and Anderson was unfortunate not to pick up Watson in the final over of the session as a length ball seamed away from the right hander’s defensive prod.

Watson picked up back-to-back fours off Anderson shortly after tea, prompting the duo to exchange verbal pleasantries for the remainder of the over.

Ponting greeted the introduction of Swann with an on-drive to the boundary.

The off-spinner thought he had removed Watson later in the over, only for Collingwood to spill a regulation chance at slip after a straighter delivery had taken the shoulder of the bat.

Ponting took the attack to England as the end approached, cracking Steven Finn for consecutive boundaries and collecting a huge six over wide long-on in Swann’s first over.

There was just enough time for the Tasmanian to bring up a 56th Test fifty, from just 41 balls, as Australia ended a chastening day on a high note.

Source: ECB

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook shared a 188-run opening stand to lead England to 238-1 at tea on the fourth day as the tourists worked to save the first Ashes test against Australia.

The pair produced England’s best ever partnership at the Gabba ground before Strauss was dismissed for 110, stumped by Brad Haddin off Marcus North.

Cook was 98 not out the break with Jonathan Trott on 23. England now have a lead of 17 runs.

After looking dominant during the morning session, Strauss was more hesitant as he approached triple figures before a superb late cut off Xavier Doherty brought up his first century in Australia.

Strauss then seemed to lose his rhythm, scoring just 10 runs from his next 40 deliveries before a rash cross-batted shot caused his demise.

Cook looked the less comfortable throughout, but ground his way toward his second century against Australia, while Trott looked assured since coming to the middle

Despite overcast conditions, there has been no discernable swing for the Australian bowlers.

Strauss was given a reprieve before lunch while on 69 when he hit a Doherty ball to Mitchell Johnson at mid-on, but the chance was dropped.

Peter Siddle was also unlucky in the first session as Cook edged just wide of third slip, and later Strauss missed his leg stump from an inside edge.

England scored 260 in its first innings before Australia notched 481 in reply with centuries from Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin.

Although Sunday has lacked the drama of the first three days of the test, England will be delighted with the way they have recovered from a huge first innings deficit and are now in a position to force a draw on Monday.

Source: Yahoo Cricket

Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin wrote themselves a place in the history books with a monumental 307-run partnership as Australia took a firm grip on the opening Test in Brisbane. The mammoth stand was a record for any wicket at the Gabba and steered the home side towards a formidable lead of 221 as Hussey hit a career-best 195. Following hours of toil, Steven Finn provided England a late boost with a career-best six wickets, but it’s a huge task for them to avoid beginning their Ashes defence with defeat.

Facing a tough hour, Andrew Strauss survived a huge appeal lbw first ball when he padded up to Ben Hilfenhaus and Ricky Ponting asked for a review but it had been correctly ruled to be heading over the stumps. However, it was a heart-in-mouth moment for Strauss, who was on a pair until he tucked a single to square leg. He and Alastair Cook fought hard to get through to the close, yet it’s only the start of what has to be a huge rearguard and at least two batsmen need to follow the lead of Hussey and Haddin.

Their stand will go down in Ashes folklore and finished second to the 346 added by Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton in 1936-37 in Australian partnerships against England. Hussey played like the man who dominated world cricket for three years after his debut before the lean time that brought his career into doubt. He reached his 12th Test century off 197 balls and celebrated with a huge release of raw emotion. It meant consecutive Ashes hundreds after his futile 121 at The Oval in 2009, but this one has given his team a huge advantage and has put to bed any debate about his place in the team.

Haddin’s innings was his finest at Test level because of the way he adjusted his game to weather an early barrage from the new ball before blossoming towards a 222-ball hundred, which he reached with a straight six off Graeme Swann. He was given a life on 63, with Australia just 39 ahead, when Cook spilled a tough chance and another on 113 when James Anderson dropped a top-edged pull as England’s fielding showed a few cracks – a bit like the Gabba surface – before eventually being well caught at slip to end the visitors’ 93-over wait for a wicket.

Finn then nipped in for a commendable six-wicket haul, but the pick of England’s attack by a mile was Anderson, who somehow went wicketless during a brilliant morning burst in a period of play that is likely to define this Test. On 82, Hussey was given lbw by Aleem Dar, but instantly called for the review and was correctly reprieved as the ball had pitched outside leg stump. Then another shout, with the batsman on 85, was stone dead only for Dar to say not out as he heard two noises – which proved to be both pads – yet England had no reviews left themselves.

Anderson wore a rueful smile, and shared a few words with the batsmen, but continued to have the ball on a string with a succession of unplayable deliveries. The opening 10 overs of the day went for just 13 runs and the first boundary didn’t arrive until Haddin drove Finn straight after 50 minutes play.

That was a signal for Haddin to play a few more shots, having had to battle against his natural instincts to repel the early barrage. He late cut Finn through gully then drove Anderson on the rise over mid-off as Australia closed in on England’s disappointing 260. Anderson finished an eight-over spell at the cost of 14, but it was the perfect example of when statistics don’t even tell half the story.

Haddin’s aggression took Australia into the lead and Hussey moved through the 90s when he used his feet against Swann in the offspinner’s opening over. Moments later, Hussey had his landmark and the ground went wild with similar ferocity as greeted Peter Siddle’s opening-day hat-trick.

England’s story of near-misses continued when Cook couldn’t quite back-pedal under a high catch offered by Haddin as he drove aggressively at Paul Collingwood’s first delivery. The importance of Haddin’s innings can’t be overstated because if the lower order had been exposed to the new ball England would have sensed their opportunity.

The pitch was still good for batting, but the widening cracks and hint of occasional balls disturbing the surface emphasised the importance of the lead. After lunch, the pair put their foot on England’s throat with dominant batting as the visitors became increasingly forlorn. A problem for Strauss was that Swann remained below his best and was comfortably picked off by Hussey and Haddin.

They ticked off a host of records including the 276 added by Bradman and Lindsay Hassett against England in 1946 as the best stand on the ground, which was brought up with an inside edge past the stumps by Haddin off Anderson, and also into second place for Ashes sixth-wicket partnerships. After two wicketless sessions, thoughts turned to whether Australia would declare in the evening, but that decision was taken out of Ponting’s hands as England showed resilience.

Swann pushed one across Haddin from around the wicket and Collingwood showed sharp reflexes, then Hussey was removed five short of a maiden Test double when he miscued a pull to deep midwicket. It had been a profitable shot throughout the innings and he left to another standing ovation.

Mitchell Johnson had been padded up all day and couldn’t get off the mark during an uncomfortable 19-ball stay before he missed a drive and Siddle was early on a pull which he gloved to slip to give Finn his third five-wicket haul. Xavier Doherty (16) suggested he can provide useful runs down the order until handing Finn his sixth as the last five wickets fell for 31. England’s bowlers did a good job against top and bottom of Australia’s, but one magnificent partnership dominated the innings.

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

The Ashes contest lived up to its billing of being too close to call on a fluctuating day at the Gabba. England’s bowlers staged a spirited fightback before being quelled by a resurgent Michael Hussey, whose unbeaten 81 gave Australia the edge when bad light ended play. The hosts lost four wickets during the afternoon session as James Anderson and Steven Finn produced fiery spells, but Hussey was joined by Brad Haddin and the sixth-wicket pair added 77 to leave Australia sensing a vital lead.

We’ll never know what the Australia selectors would have done if Hussey had failed in the second innings of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria last week, where he struck a hundred after an 18-ball duck in the first innings. His first ball today was inches short of reaching second slip but that was about his only alarm during an assured display, where his attacking approach against Graeme Swann laid down a marker for the series. Five fours and a six came against the offspinner, who, along with the quicks, regularly dropped short to feed Hussey’s pull.

However, England’s attack showed enough to suggest they can more than hold their own in Australian conditions with Anderson the most impressive as he began correcting a poor record down under. Not only did he claim two vital wickets, but his economy of under two meant the hosts didn’t race away. As a whole, England maintained good control when wickets weren’t falling although Finn’s two successes came at a slightly high cost.

England were denied the early breakthroughs they wanted during the morning session as Shane Watson and Simon Katich rode the occasional moment of good fortune. The first major alarm came when Katich, on 22, raced off for a single into the covers, which Watson declined. A direct hit from Alastair Cook would have had Katich well short but the throw missed, while Matt Prior couldn’t reach the stumps in time.

The tussle between Watson and England’s quicks was engrossing. The bowlers targeted his pads and Watson responded with handsome straight drives, but he also got into a tangle against a well-directed short ball from Broad which struck him under the arm and lobbed just clear of the stumps.

England thought they’d broken through when Katich was given lbw against Anderson but the decision was overturned on referral for height, then the visitors tried their luck with a review against Watson but it was only clipping leg stump and couldn’t be changed. By now, tensions were starting to mount – especially between Anderson and Watson – but to Anderson’s credit he kept his composure and his line as Watson edged a good-length delivery to first slip.

Anderson then gave the team a perfect start after lunch when Ricky Ponting glanced an edge down the leg side. With his tail up, Anderson gave Clarke a working over and was well supported by Finn, who produced a fine spell having begun nervously on his Ashes debut.

Katich had reached a nuggety half-century from 103 balls but hadn’t added to his score when he scooped a full delivery back towards Finn, who stooped low in his follow-through to hold a fine catch for such a tall bowler. Having made an impact, Finn then found Hussey’s edge first ball but the nick fell agonisingly short of Swann at second slip.

England were convinced they had Clarke caught behind before he’d scored when Finn nipped one back to find the inside edge and they used up their final review after Aleem Dar said not out. However, Hotspot didn’t show an edge so the decision was upheld, although Snicko – which can’t be used as part of the UDRS – did suggest a feather from Clarke’s bat.

England had a stranglehold over Australia but Hussey broke the shackles with two pulls off Finn. There was then a clear indicator for the series as Hussey took the attack to Swann – who had previously bowled two one-over spells – and used his feet to on-drive a six before cutting through the covers. When Swann continued to drop uncharacteristically short he was pulled twice through midwicket.

Finn, though, returned for another spell and made an immediate impact when Clarke’s painful 50-ball innings ended with a top-edge pull. Clarke had already been struck on the helmet and the glove by Stuart Broad as he refused to attack the short ball, and his first attempt at something aggressive brought his downfall. Swann, whose first four overs cost 34, then produced his best delivery of the innings that spun to take the edge of North’s bat as he collected his latest failure which will reignite the debate over his position at No. 6.

Haddin, who is playing his first Test since March following injury, immediately looked solid at the crease and after tea began to chip away at a tiring attack, while Hussey maintained his role of aggressor. Hussey’s fifty came from 85 balls and the midwicket fence continued to be his favoured location for boundaries. England were desperate to reach the second new ball, but the moment it became available the light closed in, followed shortly by rain, which meant the next key stage of this match had to wait. The morning should be compulsive viewing.

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

Birthday boy Peter Siddle has become the ninth Australian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket and has finished with 6-54 as the English fell from 4-197 to be all out for 260.

The hat-trick was all class, with each delivery a genuine wicket ball. Alastair Cook was drawn into an edge to Watson at slip, Matt Prior was bowled all ends up with an inswinger, and Stuart Broad was trapped plumb in front with the perfect sandshoe-crusher.

The drama escalated further when Broad referred the decision, but the decision was never in doubt, and the Gabba crowd were granted the opportunity to erupt again when Aleem Dar raised his finger for the second time.

The even-keel contest was no more, and the visitors were all of a sudden down and out at 7-197.

Ian Bell was by far and away the best of the English batsman, and his knock of 76 – before becoming Xavier Doherty’s first Test wicket – was all class, and a sure sign that the right-handed No.6 will be a key player in the Ashes series.

Cook’s score of 67, from 168 deliveries, may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing innings ever played at the Gabba, but after losing Andrew Strauss to the third ball of the day, his anchoring role, was necessary.

Kevin Pietersen (43) and Jonathan Trott (29) offered resistance at the top of the order, as well.

The avalanche of wickets in the third session may have sent the home-side into the lead, but from the start of play to the time Siddle went ballistic, it had been an incredibly tight and tough game of Test match cricket.

After returning from tea at 4-172, England continued steadily for a time and with the exception of one Cook edge through the slips off Watson in the 60th over, the Australians failed to threaten.

Initially, Siddle bowled too wide and Hilfenhaus was unable to swing the ball, even with some building cloud cover.

But the English showed no inclination to push the advantage, and after 65 overs the scoring rate had fallen to three runs an over, with Cook particularly pedestrian.

Siddle straightened up in the 66th and the change of line paid immediate and massive dividends; out of nowhere, his hat-trick ripped the game from the visitors.

Ian Bell reminded the Australians there were still some wickets to take, clipping Siddle for four soon after to bring up a beautifully played 50.

But Siddle was irrepressible, and he made it six wickets for the day, trapping Graeme Swann plumb LBW to send the English fumbling to 8-228.

James Anderson should have been the next man to fall to the Victorian juggernaut, but keeper Brad Haddin was unable to hang on to a hot diving chance low down to his left.

Ian Bell began to farm the strike, but even he was not immune to the momentum of Siddle, and he very nearly chopped on in the 72nd over.
Bell was attempting to hit out while he had his chance, and it was his eventual undoing, falling to the first ball of Doherty’s 14th.

Doherty made it two for the over and two for the day when he knocked Anderson over.

Australia made it through to stumps without loss, finishing the first day’s play at the Gabba well on top, after Peter Siddle snared a hat-trick and led the bowling attack to dismiss England for 260.

With seven overs to negotiate, Shane Watson and Simon Katich were calm and collected, compiling a chanceless 25 runs to reduce England’s first innings lead to 235.

Watson was as assured as any Australian fan could have dreamt in the first over, leaving the wider balls, defending with confidence, and blasting a cover-drive for four all the way along the ground with a full swing of the bat.

England were having no luck with the seam attack, so after six overs Strauss threw the ball to his spinning weapon, Graeme Swann, to bowl the last over of the day.

But Simon Katich treated the right-arm off-spinner with complete irreverence, blasting his first two Test match deliveries in Australia to the boundary.

Andrew Strauss had been dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus with the third ball of the day, but despite the promising start, it wasn’t until the third session that Australia truly grabbed the game by the collar.

Source: Cricket Australia